Association



June 19, 1923.

V. C. ANDERSON VAPORI ZER Original Filed May 19. 1922 I N I ENTOR.

A TTORNEY.

Patented June 19, 1923.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

VIRGIL C. ANDERSON, OF SEATTLE, WASHINGTON, ASSI GNOR TO FEDERAL GENERATOR ASSOCIATION, OF SEATTLE, WASHINGTON.

vAroaIzER.

Application flled May 19, 1922, Serial No. 562,184. Renewed May 11, 1928.

To all whom it may concern:

'Be it known that I, VrRGIL C. ANDERSON, a citizen of the United States, and residing at Seattle, in the county of King and State of Washington,..have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Vaporizers, of whichthe "folloWingis a specification.

This invention is directed to a fuel vaporizer for internal combustion engines, wherein there is provided a fuelflo w control means, which is' interiorly 'i-heated,- and passed which thefuel'is directed in a thinencirclingfilm, to' therebyinsure a complete vaporization ofthe =fuel. -w i l The vaporizer as a whole is distinguished in'this class of devices in that the usual float, float chamber, and needle valve for controlling theadmission of fuel to the float chamber,are entirely dispensed with,"and the flow of fuel through the vaporizer induced en-f tirely by the suctionof the engine, and controlled 'entirely' by a manually adjustable needle valve, which is interlorly heated, and which is so arrangedasto' compel a flow of the fuel in a thin film about and lengthwise of said needle 'valve, in any'and all positions of the needle valve.

The vaporizer of this invention includes a body formedwitna-"fue'l passage and a cup of relatively small interiondimensions, which-is freely opento the Cm'ain fuel supply,] the cup adjustablysupporting the needle valve which cooperates with the passage in the body to regulate theflow of fuel .as'sin 'said valvei The needle valve is interiorly'- eatedso that the fuelis vaporized during its travel through the needle valve.

The vaporizer "also includes a mixing chamber am ed beyond the .body and having a'djusta ly secured thereto an' annular angularly related chamber, with its respective ends controlled -by-an inwardly opening air admission valve and an outwardly o ening explosion relief valve. This 'cham r has a seriesof communications with the mixing chamber, and the annular chamber as .a whole is mounted for relative rotation with relation to the mixing chamber to thereby adjust the size of said communications, to regulate the air supply.

In the drawings: v

Fig. 1 is a view in front elevation of the improved vaporizer.

Fig. 2 is a vertical section partly in elevation of the same. Fig. 3 is a transverse sectionon line 3 .3 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is'a longitudinal section of ,the needle valve, illustrating particula-rlyilthe, heating means therefor! i '!i' The improved fuel vaporizer comprises abody 1, preferably but not necessarily of solid form, in: which opening through the lower end is formed a'central circularvborc' 2 of conical form atthe upper end'asat 3, to provide a valve seat, this lower passage communicating through a restricted cha'nnel 4-with an upper circular bore 5 openin through the upper end of' the body and formed at its lower end, adjacent and in communication with the restricted channel 4, with a conical valve seat 6. l

The lower end ofthe body 1 is diametrically reduced "to provide an exteriorly threaded extension 7, on which is remov-i ably secured: a cup member 8. The member 8, which maybe secured tothebody with an interposed sealing gasket 9 to prevent leakage,'has adiameter substantially equal to the maximum diameterof the body, and the bottomof the cup member is arranged below thebottom of the body to thereby provide a fuel'chambe'r 10,which'howeve'r merely serves the function of a'fuel-well, being of*comparatively small dimensions The fuelsupply pipe 11, with or' without a check valveas desired, which leads directly from the storage supply, as the main fuel. tank or vacuum tank, which ever systeml is used, is directly and removably connected to the cup member 8, to thereby establish open communication between the main fuel supply and the well 10. 1 Y

Immediately above the line of the restricted channel 4, the body is slightly reduced diametrically and threaded to receive what may be termed the mixing chamber. This mixing chamber is in the form of a sleeve member 12 removably secured upon the body and having an exterior diameter corresponding to that of the body. This sleeve 12 in addition to forming the mixing chamber is extended beyond the mixing chamber area and appropriately curved, being terminally provided with the usual flange 13 whereby the vaporizer as a whole may be secured to the engine or to the intake manifold, as the case may be. The usual butterfly valyezl i g int/ed in sleeve e xtension beyond t e mixing -'chamber, for the usual purpose. n

r endof the body lis Inateria y re iii d i diameter providing an exteriorly threaded wall surrounding the central bore 5, said body being of conical forrnation from said well 15 to the inner surface of the mixing.ehamber,-.asat :16. A diffuser 17 preferably in the form of a nut, is threadediupqn the .-.wall-15, the interior opening 18 of which support is bridged bya difiusing' element as an appropriate netal screen 19. A valve 20 is arranged to 'cooperate with :the seat '6, -.;this valve opening in-.the upper diqectjonhundei'. thesuction of the engine against the tension of a-coxnparatively :light 1 spring 21JIfh'e1im3ortant. detail'ofitherpresent inventiomresi es in what will belliereinafter termed a needle' valve indicated generally as; 22; which comprises ametalliciibod having: an supper rconical valve endQBfa apted to cooperate with the valveseat 3', and a cylindrical body 9A=havadiametersli 'htly 1888? than that of the bore 25in the b0 y. The :needle valve is threaded at :25 throu hthe bottom wall'of the :c'u'p member and is provided-beyond the cup member .withthe usual limiting' nut 26.and;lock.nut.27, .wherbythe needle valve whenxadjusted is-rigidl I justment. The needle va ve-isof holloweom struction toireceive anrinsu-latin section 28 through whichextendsa metal in conductor 29. The inner end 50f this-conductor 29 'is connected to one-terminal-rof a .wire 30iadapted to be coiledaboutitheiinsulating section -28 .and connected. at :its 0 osite ter minal 2112311 to the exteriorqmeta hcshell of the needle valve. The conductor 29 is connected through anexte'rnal lead 32 and a switchtl-B. which-may be located convenient to the driver. wtih the usual storage batitery. 34, so that upon closing the switch, the .needel valve will become heated.

It is of course apparent that in the adjustment of the needle valve to or from its seat 3, the passage of vapor through the restricted channel 4 .may beicontrolled at will, but it is to be particularly noted that the restricted annular area formed throughout the length of that portion ,of .the needle valve within the bore .2, remains constant in all adjustments of tlie needle valve, so that under the suctionof-the engine, there is a thin film of liquid fuel-brought into contact with the heated: needle valve to insure the necessary vaporization.

Combined with and forming an essential part of the vaporizer 'described is an air inlet and control means. This means is here shown as a cylindrical partly annular casing 35, arranged as a body to partly oncircle the mixing chamberwith the inner wall of such casing bearing for limited rooheld-U-to =said ad tative movement on the exterior wall of the llllXiI1 chamber. .The ends of the casing 35, which are approximately in the same plane transverse the vaporizer. are pro Vided with 'air inlet means and back lire exit means. For example, one such end is forn 1ed with an air inlet opening 36 controlled by a disc valve 37 slidably mounted uponarod 38 ,and normally held closed by a spring 40. The disc valve 37 opens inwardly being guided by a web 41, the rod 38 being adjustable .exteriorly of the casing by means of a nut 4-2 cooperating-with a sleeve 43 supported on the casing and through which the rod 38 passes The normal spring pres sureon =the.dise .valve 37 may be thus adjusted for obvious purposes. The opposite end of the casingiis provided with snoutwardly opening valve .44 :held in normally closed position by aspring 45 hearing betweenastransverseiweb :46 and aunt 47:;on the .walve stein-l8. Thisflvalve yields under any internal pressure ;in the casing, as for example, a back fire, to permit the-esci-ipe of such without damage.

-The inner :wall of,thecasing 35, and the wall of the mixingchamber, are formed at appropriate points. with openings 49, which when in register, provide a means of communication ibetween the-air casing and .mixing .chaurber.- .The airadinitted through these openin fs is partly directed through an oponin a0 jormed in the wall of the bod-y-leadinglito the bore .5 below the diffuser, the admitted air being fur her dirented. in alert around the diilusersupport and mixing with the vapor above said .(liffuses. The air is thus permitted to mix with the vapor at twodistinct'points, tendingvto a moreefl'ective intermixing.

As previously stated, the air casing is mounted forlirnited rotatirc adjustmenton the mixing chamber. so that therebyIt-hc relative size of the inter connnunication hr.- tu'een the air casing and mixing chamber can be controlled by regulating the degree of registration between the respective sets of openings 49.

The mixing chamberis also provided nith anvadditional automatic control inlet forair, including a tubular member 51 having an entrant opening 52 governed by an inwardly acting spring pressed ball valve 53. The member-.51 is rcmovably connected upon a threaded extension 54 extending from the mixing chamber between the. ends of the air casing. the wall of the mixing chamber having an openin; 55 through .which air is admitted from the tubular member 51.

The vaporizer as a whole dispenses en tirely with the usual float chamber, float. and the inlet needle valve control for; such chamber. These parts are the source of an noyance and irregular operation as the float is subjected to vibrations incident to the jarring of the vehicle in travel, and hence the supply in the float chamber is sufficiently irregular to interfere with the proper supply to the cylinders. The vaporizer herein described contemplates no control to the supply between the main tank and throttle valve except through the needle valve and out off 20, or in other words, the engine sup ply is drawn directly from the main supply through the suction of the engine. The liquid fuel in its passage passed the cylindrical portion of the needle valve is forced into a thin encircling film, and as the metallic needle valve is heated, the fuel is readily, quickly, and uniformly vaporized. Thus the suction of the engine draws the liquid fuel up into this thin film area to the point where the heat of the needle valve vaporizes such fuel. The cut off 20 merely serves as a check when the engine is not operating. The air supply is automatic, though capable of regulation. The various parts of the device are readily and conveniently separable for repair or replacement.

Claims:

1. A vaporizer for internal combustion engines, including a fuel well, a needle valve for controlling the flow of fuel therefrom, a mixing chamber arranged above the needle valve, means for heating said needle valve, a cut. off arranged above the needle valve, an annular air easing surrounding the mixing chamber and having adjustable communication therewith, an inwardly opening valve carried by said chamber, and an out- Wardly opening valve carried by said chamher.

2. A vaporizer for internal combustion engines, including a body, a heated needle valve operating therein, a cup member re movably secured to the lower end of the body, a mixing chamber removably secured to the upper end of the body, said cup memher, body. and mixing chamber, being of uniform exterior diameter, and a cylindrical partly annular air casing rotatably mounted on and surrounding the mixing chamber, said air casing being adapted for communication with the mixing chamber.

A vaporizer for internal combustion engines, including a body, a heated needle valve operating therein, a cup member removahly secured to the lower end of the body. a mixing chamber removably secured to the upper end of the body, said cup member. body, and mixing chamber, being of uniform exterior diameter, a cylindrical paiily annular air casing rotatably mounted on and surrounding the mixing chamber, said air easing being arranged for com munication with said chamber, and an independent air inlet leading to the mixing chamber.

4. A vaporizer for internal combustion engines, including a body formed with a restricted fuel passage, a valve seat below the passage, a valve seat above the passage, and a longitudinal bore extending from the lower valve seat, a well removably secured on the lower end of the body, a needle valve adjustably mounted in the wall of the well, means for heating the needle valve, said needle valve extending through the longitudinal bore and cooperating with the lower valve seat, an upwardly opening valve cooperating with the upper valve seat, and a diffuser removably connected to the body and arranged beyond the upper open end thereof.

5. A vaporizer for internal combustion engines, including a body formed interiorly with a restricted fuel passage, a valve seat below the passage. a valve seat above the passage, and longitudinal bores openin through the respective ends of the body beyond the valve seats, a well Ieniovably sei-ured on the lower end of the body, a mixing chamber removably secured on the upper end of the body, valves cooperating with the respective valve seats, means for heating one of said valves, a difl'user removably secured upon the upper end of the body, an air inlet casing surrounding and having communication with the mixing chamber, the wall of the bore above the upper valve seat in the body being formed with an air inlet opening disposed below the diffuser, and means for delivering fuel to the well.

6. vaporizer for internal combustion engines, comprising a body formed with a fuel channel, a heated element defining with the body a restricted fuel space leading to the channel, said heated clement being operative to regulate the flow of fuel from said restricted fuel space to the channel, and normally closed means adapted to open under engine suction to control the flow from said channel.

7. .L vaporizer for internal combustion engines, comprising a body formed with a fuel channel, a manually adjustable needle valve controlling the flow to said channel, means for heating said valve to vaporize the fuel passing thereby, and normally closed means adapted to open under engine suction to control the flow from said channel.

8. A vaporizer for internal combustion engines, comprising a body formed with a fuel channel, valves at opposite ends of said channel. one of said valves being manually adjustable and the other of said values being opened by engine suction, and means for heating one of said valves to vaporize the fuel passing thereby.

9. A vaporizer for internal combustion engines. comprising a body formed with a longitudinal bore. and a restricted channel at one end of said here, a needle valve adjustable in the bore and controlling the flow to said channel, said bore defining a narrow fuel passage surrounding the needle valve and remaining constantly uniform in all positions of the needle valve, and a cut-ofi responsive to engine suction to control the flow from said restricted channel.

10. A vaporizer for internal combustion engines. comprising a body formed with a longitudinal bore, and a restricted channel leading from the bore, said body above said restricted channel being formed with an upper circular bore of greater diameter than the channel, a needle valve operating in the fuel passing thereby, a cut-0E cooperating with the opposite end of the channel and adapted to be opened under engine suction, and air admission means mounted on the body and communicating with the upper cir- 20 cular bore above the cut-off.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature.

VIRGIL C. ANDERSON. 

